Commercial LED Retrofit Services in Brooklyn

Upgrade Your Brooklyn Building to Energy-Efficient LED Lighting

Fluorescent tubes, metal halide fixtures, and high-pressure sodium lights are relics of a less efficient era. They consume excessive energy, generate unwanted heat, require frequent maintenance, and produce light quality that falls far short of modern LED alternatives. For Brooklyn commercial building owners, the combination of rising energy costs, NYC Local Law 88 compliance requirements, and attractive utility rebates makes LED retrofitting one of the highest-return capital improvements available.

Brooklyn Electrical Experts performs commercial LED retrofits for offices, warehouses, retail spaces, apartment building common areas, parking structures, and industrial facilities throughout Brooklyn. We handle every aspect of your lighting upgrade from initial energy audit through rebate collection, delivering measurable energy savings and full code compliance.

The Case for LED Retrofit in Brooklyn

The financial argument for LED retrofitting in Brooklyn is straightforward and compelling. Commercial electricity rates in Brooklyn rank among the highest in the nation, which means every watt of lighting energy you waste costs more here than in most other markets. LED technology reduces lighting energy consumption by 60 to 70 percent compared to fluorescent systems and by up to 80 percent compared to HID fixtures.

Beyond energy savings, LED fixtures require dramatically less maintenance. A typical fluorescent tube lasts 20,000 hours and requires ballast replacements every few years. A quality LED fixture lasts 50,000 to 100,000 hours with no ballast maintenance. For buildings with hundreds of fixtures, the reduction in lamp replacement labor and material costs is substantial.

Types of Commercial LED Retrofits

Not every LED upgrade requires complete fixture replacement. We evaluate each situation and recommend the most cost-effective approach.

Tube Replacement Retrofits

The simplest LED retrofit replaces fluorescent tubes with LED tube replacements. Type A LED tubes are direct replacements that work with existing fluorescent ballasts, requiring no rewiring. Type B LED tubes bypass the ballast entirely, connecting directly to line voltage for maximum efficiency and elimination of ballast maintenance. We typically recommend Type B for the best long-term value, and our electricians handle the simple ballast bypass wiring.

Troffer Retrofit Kits

For recessed fluorescent troffers, common in office ceiling grids, LED retrofit kits replace the internal lamp and reflector components while reusing the existing housing and ceiling opening. This approach provides a clean, modern appearance with minimal installation time. Retrofit kits are available in multiple color temperatures and lumen outputs to match your workspace needs.

Full Fixture Replacement

In some cases, the existing fixtures are damaged, outdated, or incompatible with efficient LED operation. Full fixture replacement with purpose-built LED troffers, panels, or downlights provides the best light quality, highest efficiency, and longest life. Modern LED fixtures are thinner and lighter than fluorescent troffers, and many include integrated drivers that simplify installation.

High Bay LED Retrofits

Warehouses, manufacturing facilities, gymnasiums, and retail spaces with high ceilings commonly use metal halide or high-pressure sodium HID fixtures. These fixtures are energy-intensive, take 15 to 20 minutes to warm up to full brightness, and cannot be dimmed or controlled effectively.

LED high bay fixtures provide instant full-brightness light, consume 60 to 80 percent less energy, and can be equipped with occupancy sensors and dimming controls for additional savings. For Brooklyn warehouses and industrial spaces, the improvement in light quality and controllability is dramatic.

Lighting Controls: Beyond the Fixture

Modern LED lighting achieves maximum efficiency when combined with intelligent controls. We design and install control systems that ensure you only use lighting energy when and where it is needed.

Occupancy Sensors

Occupancy sensors automatically turn lights off in unoccupied areas and back on when people enter. In commercial settings, offices, conference rooms, restrooms, storage areas, and stairwells frequently sit empty for hours. Occupancy sensors in these spaces can reduce lighting energy by an additional 20 to 30 percent beyond the savings from LED fixtures alone.

We install ceiling-mounted, wall-mounted, and in-fixture occupancy sensors depending on the space geometry and detection requirements. Each sensor is calibrated for its specific location to prevent false triggers and ensure reliable operation.

Daylight Harvesting

Spaces with windows or skylights receive significant natural light during daytime hours. Daylight harvesting sensors measure ambient light levels and automatically dim LED fixtures to supplement natural light rather than compete with it. In perimeter offices and spaces with large windows, daylight harvesting can reduce artificial lighting energy by 40 to 60 percent during daytime hours.

Scheduling and Zoned Controls

For buildings with predictable occupancy patterns, scheduled lighting controls turn lights on before occupants arrive and off after they leave. Zoning allows different areas to operate on independent schedules. Combined with occupancy sensors as an override, scheduling ensures lighting operates at minimum levels during occupied hours and zero levels during vacant periods.

NYC Local Law 88 Compliance Through LED Retrofit

Local Law 88 requires buildings over 25,000 square feet to upgrade lighting to meet the NYC Energy Conservation Code. For most Brooklyn commercial buildings, an LED retrofit is the most direct and cost-effective path to compliance.

What LL88 Requires for Lighting

The law mandates that all lighting in covered buildings meets current energy code efficiency standards. This means maximum watts per square foot by space type, specific control requirements including occupancy sensors in required areas, and code-minimum light levels to ensure adequate illumination. Our LED retrofit designs are engineered to meet all three requirements simultaneously.

Compliance Documentation

After completing your retrofit, we prepare and submit the required LL88 compliance documentation to the NYC Department of Buildings. This includes a registered design professional certification that your lighting meets code, documentation of all installed fixtures and controls, and verification that light levels and power density comply with requirements.

ConEdison Commercial Lighting Rebates

ConEdison’s commercial and industrial lighting rebate program offers substantial financial incentives for LED retrofits. Rebates are calculated based on the wattage reduction achieved by the retrofit, with different rates for different fixture categories.

How We Maximize Your Rebates

We handle the entire ConEdison rebate process from start to finish. Before installation, we submit a pre-approval application with your project specifications so you know exactly what rebate to expect. After installation, we complete the post-installation verification paperwork and submit it to ConEdison. Rebate checks are typically issued within 6 to 10 weeks of completed paperwork.

For large retrofit projects, ConEdison rebates often cover 25 to 40 percent of total project costs. Combined with energy savings, many Brooklyn commercial LED retrofits achieve complete payback within 2 to 3 years.

Phased Approach for Large Buildings

For buildings with hundreds of fixtures across multiple floors, we recommend a phased retrofit approach. This spreads capital expenditure over multiple budget cycles while delivering incremental energy savings with each completed phase.

We typically prioritize the highest-use areas first, such as lobbies, common corridors, parking garages, and spaces with the longest operating hours, because these deliver the fastest payback. Subsequent phases address individual floors, tenant spaces, and lower-priority areas.

Start Your Brooklyn LED Retrofit

Every month you delay an LED retrofit is another month of excessive energy costs and potential LL88 non-compliance exposure. Call Brooklyn Electrical Experts at (347) 472-1129 for a free lighting audit and energy analysis. We will show you exactly how much you can save and how quickly the project pays for itself.